18 for Samukai’s Tourney

Eighteen teams will take part in a weeklong soccer and kickball tournament in honor of Brownie J. Samukai Jr., Minister of National Defense in Barnersville, Mountserrado County Electoral District #11, outside Monrovia.

The tournament began on Friday, October 1, with a parade through the eighteen community blocks in Barnesville with their respective leaders.

Richard Menah Gaye of Barnesville Township, who is also chairman of the eighteen community chairmen, said the tournament is the beginning of a series of activities Minister Samukai has planned to bring members of the community together.

The tournament, Mr. Gaye said, will run from October 1 to October 11, and the winner will walk away with a giant-sized golden trophy.

He therefore called on members of the participating teams to remain united and disciplined; a behavior, which he said, residents have recorded over the years about Barnersville.

Nathaniel T. Solo, the tournament’s Steering Committee chairman, said this year’s tournament will achieve the tournaments’ objective, adding: “we have involved the 18 communities’ chairpersons and have also requested the Liberia Football Association to supervise the soccer portion of the game.”

He said before the two finalists meet on Tuesday, October 11, the community will have an exhibition match between officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) assigned in Barnersville and the community’s All Stars.

Jackson T. Julu Toe, youth representative at Friday’s opening ceremony, expressed gratitude to Minister Samukai for his “farsightedness to bring the community together as he did during the 2014 Ebola outbreak.”

“We embrace the idea because it would preach discipline and unity in the minds of residents,” Toe said.

All the games will be played at the Kollie FC and the Kebah Sport Pitches, West and South of Barnersville respectively.

Meanwhile, in the opening matches on Friday, Darmanwolor defeated Palm Hill 3-1 in post-match penalty in soccer and Darmanwolor girls forfeited the kickball point because they did not show-up.

On Sunday (yesterday), E.J. Goodridge was awarded free points due to the absence of 1407 Block ‘B’ team. In kickball, a similar decision was taken in favor of E.J. Goodridge.

In the second game Behwein defeated Lulu Pennoh 4-1. For kickball, however, the two teams did not show up for their scheduled encounter.

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